Autophagy related gene 13

Autophagy Related 13 or ATG13 is a gene that is involved in controlling autophagy.

ME/CFS

In May 2022, Simmaron Research announced that they were inserting several human genes including ATG13 into mice in order to research post-exertional malaise and fatigue. ATG13 activates the myokines interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Regulated upon activation, normally T-expressed, and presumably secreted (RANTES).

Notable studies

• 2021, Molecular evidence of autophagy impairment as serum level of ATG13 is elevated in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome: two independent case-control studies - (Pre-print, Full text)
• 2022, Elevated ATG13 in serum of patients with ME/CFS stimulates oxidative stress response in microglial cells via activation of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) - (Abstract)

See also

• Genetics of chronic fatigue syndrome
• Mouse model of chronic fatigue syndrome

Learn more

• ATG13 Gene - Gene cards
• May 2022, Seeing ME/CFS: Creating the First Mouse Models for the Disease - Simmaron Research
• Sep 2022, Cleaning Crisis? Is Defective Mitochondrial Cleanup Impairing Energy Production in ME/CFS? - Simmaron Research

See myalgic encephalomyelitis.

See chronic fatigue syndrome.

The clear yellowish fluid that remains from blood plasma after clotting factors have been removed by clot formation. (Blood plasma is simply blood that has had its blood cells removed.)

serum The clear yellowish fluid that remains from blood plasma after clotting factors have been removed by clot formation. (Blood plasma is simply blood that has had its blood cells removed.)

microglia A type of immune cell, called a macrophage, that lives in the brain. For historical reasons, macrophages have different names based on the part of the body that they normally live in. Macrophages that normally live in the blood are called monocytes. Macrophages that normally live in the skin are called Langerhans cells. Macrophages that normally live in the liver are called Kupffer cells. And macrophages that normally live in the central nervous system are called microglia. Microglia were originally classified as glial cells, under the assumption that the cells had a merely structural function, before it was realized that the cells were in fact immune cells. As the "sentinel cells" of the central nervous system, microglia survey their environment for abnormalities such as infection or tissue damage, and then initiate an immune response to fight the infection or repair the tissue damage.